Coalition Executive Director Natalie Harris says officials began noticing a trend last year, when member agencies reported an increasing number of young people in crisis.

“Last year, 555 young adults from 18-24, lived as adults in our adult shelters here in Louisville. And that really broke our hearts. It made us think that we were not realizing what was going on in our own community,” she said.

Harris says in response, her organization and 25 partner agencies have formed a group called the Coalition Supporting Young Adults. It’s recruiting mentors and raising money for services such as a new YMCA drop-in center where homeless young adults can go for a shower, wash clothes and find access to other services.